MDMA (“Ecstasy”) and Its Association with Cerebrovascular Accidents: Preliminary Findings

[¹²³I]R91150 SPECT images in a control subject, a recent MDMA user, and an ex-MDMA user. Transverse slices from the brain at the level of the basal ganglia, approximately 3 cm above the orbitomeatal line. In the three images, the level of [¹²³I]R91150 activity is color-coded from low (black) to high (white) and scaled to the maximum in the slice obtained in the control subject. The three images are representative of the three groups: in the control subject, there is normal [¹²³I]R91150 binding, in the recent MDMA user, low [¹²³I]R91150 binding, and in the ex-MDMA user, high [¹²³I]R91150 binding

Higher rCBV values are observed in the left globus pallidus and right thalamus in the ex-MDMA users than in the control subjects. After registration in the same orientation (in six control subjects and two ex-MDMA users), an unpaired Student's t-test was performed on each voxel of generated rCBV maps, revealing significant differences in the colored regions (yellow, P < .025; red, P < .005). Images were obtained at intervals of 1202 milliseconds (800/54) before, during, and after injection of contrast agent